Nearly half of oncologists said they use the internet for more than four hours every day for professional reasons, a recent Medscape survey found.
The data comes from Medscape's "Medscape Oncologist Lifestyle & Happiness Report 2024: The Ongoing Struggle for Balance," published March 8. Medscape surveyed 9,226 physicians across 29 specialties between July 5 and October 9, 2023. They published reports for each specialty surveyed and an overall review of the data across specialties.
Here are nine lifestyle statistics to know about oncologists:
- More than 60% of oncologists said spending time with family and friends, exercise, and participating in activities and hobbies they enjoyed were the top ways they maintain their happiness and mental health.
- About 62% of oncologists would take less pay for better work-life balance.
- The majority (80%) of oncologists said their diet is "somewhat healthy" or "somewhat unhealthy," with only 18% saying their diet is "very healthy."
- Nearly 50% of oncologists exercise two to three times a week.
- About half of oncologists said they don't drink alcohol (23%) or have less than one drink per week (24%).
- About 82% of oncologists said they use the internet for professional use for at least two hours a day, with 44% saying they use it for more than four hours a day.
- Most oncologists said they are married (86%), and 74% of those who were married described their marriage as "very good" or "good." This is one of the lowest percentages of happy marriages reported among specialties.
- Among oncologists, 28% said their significant other is a physician, and 31% said their partner works in healthcare but not as a physician.
- The majority (78%) of oncologists take one to four weeks of vacation a year.